On July 21st, 2010, foundation laying for the Rivers Monorail began at UTC Bus Stop, Port Harcourt.

The piling process was marked as a momentous occasion signifying as it does the beginning in earnest of one of possibly the most important and relevant constructions that has ever been embarked upon in the State, the country and even in Africa.

The occasion was marked by the presence of representatives from the State Government, The Rivers Monorail Company, Senior Partners TSI Investments and Holdings and Technical Partners Intamin/Ponet.

The Rivers Monorail Project is a Public Private Partnership embarked upon by the Rivers State Government and TSI Investments and Holdings. The project is expected to take an estimated two years.

See below for images from the event.

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███"We're Americans, we don't quit just 'cause we're wrong! We just keep doing the wrong thing 'till﻿ it turns out right!" - Boondocks

The Rivers Monorail will be using the Intamin P30 Monorail Train, an electric driven train especially designed and most suitable for commuter services in cities.

It is the most recent model of its kind and characterized by modern design, spacious cabins and is equipped with large size door openings for easy access for passengers with luggage.

The visual impact of the train, the track beam (which it rides on) and the supporting columns will be minimal and an appropriate color will be chosen to help integrate the system into the environment.

System Statistics

- Maximum achievable transport capacity 1,300 pph/direction

- Average interval of train is approximately 12/24 mins

- Maximum Speed 70km/hr

- Track Length 19.1 km

- Total passengers per train (standard Capacity) 158

- Total passengers per train (peak capacity) 210

- Operating Brakes are electrical regenerative brakes

- Holding breaks are mechanical brakes

- Emergency brake are mechanical brakes (fail safe design)

- Overall Route Track Length – 19.1Km

- Overall No. of Columns – 1473

- Stations – 14

- Train Sets – 5

- Coaches per Train – 6

- Passengers per Train – 210

- Passengers per hr per direction – 1300

The Rivers Monorail Beam System

[IMG]http://i37.************/2chos61.jpg[/IMG]

The Monorail Beam is elevated, supported by columns which in turn are supported by a foundation. The foundation will be properly sized to take all loads applied from the column to the foundation.

The foundation and the beam structure shall be designed to a minimum life time of 50 years. The foundation shall be designed and built to withstand the local climate conditions at Port Harcourt including flood, thunderstorm, heavy rain, etc.

The Surveyed Route will be implemented in phases while other routes are being surveyed.

Planned implementation has been divided into Phase 1 and Phase 2.

Phase 1 will act as a Pilot Scheme that will enable people to gain confidence in the project. The other benefits of Phase 1 are:

•Provides opportunity to assess real impact on traffic and adjust plans as necessary.
•Allows for time to raise necessary funds.
•Phase 1 will be something tangible that potential investors and lenders can build their confidence on.

Phase 1:

•Two Trains
•Five Stations
•Transfer Length 6.4 km

Route 1:

Aggrey road (UPTH Junction) – Sharks Park

Sharks park – Supabod

Supabod – Isaac Boro Park

Isaac Boro Park – Garrison (Aba Road)

Phase 2:

- Five Trains

- Twenty Stations

- Transfer Length 19.1 km

Completed Route:

Aggrey road (UPTH Junction) – Sharks Park

Sharks park – Supaboard

Supaboard – Isaac Boro Park

Isaac Boro Park - Garrison (Aba Rd)

Garrison – Waterlines

Waterlines – GRA Junction (Aba Rd)

GRA Junction (Aba rd) – Rumuola Junction

Ordinance Junction (NEWS) – Elekahia Housing Estate

Rumuola Junction – Airforce Base Junction

Airforce Base Junction – 1st or 2nd Artillery Junction)

1st or 2nd Artillery Junction – Rumukwurushi Junction

Rumukwurushi Junction – Oil Mill Junction

Oil Mill Junction – Eleme Junction

Eleme Junction – Oyigbo

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███"We're Americans, we don't quit just 'cause we're wrong! We just keep doing the wrong thing 'till﻿ it turns out right!" - Boondocks

Am glad this one finally took off making it more promising than the one planned for Calabar. However, the life span of 50 years of the project is a good one. I hope the actual monorail system looks just like the one on the plan.

Work has begun on the Port Harcourt Monorail project introduced by the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi-led administration in Rivers State. N11 billion has already been released as part of the state government’s equity for the construction of the monorail which is been built under a public private partnership arrangement.

The Rivers’ monorail would be the first of its kind in West Africa.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, on Tuesday, Governor Amaechi’s media adviser and publicist Mr David Iyofor, stated that the monorail being developed for mass transportation within the Port Harcourt metropolis would not only decongest the roads in the city, but would also provide a competitive mass transport solution to the city and create job opportunities.

This public private partnership project between the Rivers State government and TSI Holdings Limited has been put at a projected cost of $318 million, with an equity division of 20 per cent to the state government and 80 per cent to TSI Holdings.

Iyofor explained that Governor Amaechi adopted the idea in line with his efforts to decongest traffic in the city and make transportation easily and readily accessible to residents of the State.

He said: “Commuters would surely breathe a sigh of relief at the completion of this project, as it would be reliable in transporting large number of people rapidly and conveniently along special routes aimed at optimal traffic decongestion.

“The first phase of 19.5 km track length is expected to be completed two years from the day of its foundation-laying ceremony performed by President Goodluck Jonathan during his official visit to Rivers State in May.”

The proposed routes for the first phase, according to Iyofor, are “Aggrey Road through Station Road- Azikiwe Road and Aba Road to Water Lines Junction.”

“The proposed kind of train to be used on the Rivers Monorail is the Intamin P30 Monorail Train, an electric driven train designed and most suitable for commuter services in cities as seen in some parts of Europe,” he said.

Train commuter service under the on-going monorail project of the Rivers State government will commence in July next year. The monorail service is expected to commute about 4,000 persons a day.

The State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Dakuku Peterside dropped the hint in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt.

He said that the Rivers State Monorail Company which has commenced work on the installation of the infrastructure for the project was set up, to isolate the monorail project from government bureaucracy.

According to him, government engaged some of the best professionals on earth in the sector to ensure that the final project delivery will make the state monorail the first of its kind in Nigeria.

When it comes on stream, Peterside said, the monorail service will be aligned with bus stops to ensure synergy in the sector.

The project will also provide added impetus to the development of the state’s rich tourism potentials, he said.

The project, according to the commissioner, will complement existing air, water and road transport infrastructure in the state.

He said government was committed to the realisation of its vision of a Rivers State where all communities where accessible by quality roads, all the year round.

It is this vision, he said, that was driving government in the various projects scattered around the state for which it was being described as “the biggest construction site in Nigeria today”.

The Commissioner praised Governor Amaechi for making a fundamental difference in the infrastructure landscape of the city of Port Harcourt and the entire state.

He spoke of the various challenges in projects implementation, including the environment, soil quality and rainfall but asserted that “in the midst of all these constraints, we have made appreciable impact”.

He announced that contract for the Trans-Kalabari Road will be re-awarded before December this year, in line with the governor’s directive. Already contractors have been short-listed for the award of the job.

The Commissioner regretted that most of the contractors awarded the job initially, were from Kalabari and did not have the capacity to execute it, which led to the termination of the contract.

He said the state government was also inter-facing with the Ministry of Niger Delta with a view to getting the abandoned Bodo-Bonny road project back on course.

The Bodo-Bonny Road is a federal government project abandoned over the years, following disagreement between the contractor the Federal ministry of Works. It has been inherited by the Ministry of Niger Delta.

“We are optimistic that, that project will be back on course, very soon”, the Commissioner said.

Train commuter service under the on-going monorail project of the Rivers State government will commence in July next year. The monorail service is expected to commute about 4,000 persons a day.

The State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Dakuku Peterside dropped the hint in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt.

He said that the Rivers State Monorail Company which has commenced work on the installation of the infrastructure for the project was set up, to isolate the monorail project from government bureaucracy.

According to him, government engaged some of the best professionals on earth in the sector to ensure that the final project delivery will make the state monorail the first of its kind in Nigeria.

When it comes on stream, Peterside said, the monorail service will be aligned with bus stops to ensure synergy in the sector.

The project will also provide added impetus to the development of the state’s rich tourism potentials, he said.

The project, according to the commissioner, will complement existing air, water and road transport infrastructure in the state.

He said government was committed to the realisation of its vision of a Rivers State where all communities where accessible by quality roads, all the year round.

It is this vision, he said, that was driving government in the various projects scattered around the state for which it was being described as “the biggest construction site in Nigeria today”.

The Commissioner praised Governor Amaechi for making a fundamental difference in the infrastructure landscape of the city of Port Harcourt and the entire state.

He spoke of the various challenges in projects implementation, including the environment, soil quality and rainfall but asserted that “in the midst of all these constraints, we have made appreciable impact”.

He announced that contract for the Trans-Kalabari Road will be re-awarded before December this year, in line with the governor’s directive. Already contractors have been short-listed for the award of the job.

The Commissioner regretted that most of the contractors awarded the job initially, were from Kalabari and did not have the capacity to execute it, which led to the termination of the contract.

He said the state government was also inter-facing with the Ministry of Niger Delta with a view to getting the abandoned Bodo-Bonny road project back on course.

The Bodo-Bonny Road is a federal government project abandoned over the years, following disagreement between the contractor the Federal ministry of Works. It has been inherited by the Ministry of Niger Delta.

“We are optimistic that, that project will be back on course, very soon”, the Commissioner said.

So I am guessing work is ongoing twice as fast as anticipated because the article posted before this one said it would take 2 years from May 2010 to complete the first phase. hmm..oh well.. as long as they do a good job.